"The Crown Princess's position is tough. Watching your husband go away for weeks is just unbearable for any woman," Xue Yu-Yan stated. "We shall be with the Crown Princess in this tough time," she suggested. Zhilao Mi was not interested in the Crown Princess's matter, so she took her to leave.

Ying Lili went towards the watchtower to look at Sheng Li. Nianzu decided to follow her when he heard the galloping of a horse. The Princes too heard and saw a woman coming on a horse towards the Fu Imperial Gates. Lei Wanxi, who had not forgotten the incident, recalled it again as he saw the face of the woman, who was on a horse.

She halted her horse upon seeing the Princes. Jian Guozhi stepped forward and asked her about her identity. The woman got off the horse. The bamboo conical hat was hanging on her back.

She lowered her eyes to introduce herself. "I am Huan Zhu Lin, the Princess of Huan Province." Lei Wanxi widened his eyes upon hearing her name while Nianzu got tense seeing the Princess of Huan in front of him.

"Princess of Huan Province!" Yongzheng amusingly said and looked at her getup. She was in a man's attire and her hand was on her right waist, over the hilt of the sword.

"How could you be the Princess?" Suddenly Lei Wanxi burst out, grabbing their attention. They found him angry, which was rare to see. "Brother," Lei Wanxi turned towards the First Prince and continued, "She is the one because of whom I ended up in this state. I was caught as a hostage. The sword was hanging at my neck just because of her. I do not think that she is the Princess." Lei Wanxi blurted out everything he had in his mind.

Zhu Lin put her hand inside her pocket and took out a seal. "This is the seal of Huan Province. Unlike someone, I did not forget to bring my seal," Zhu Lin asserted with a menacing expression. Lei Wanxi lost his temper, and he snatched the seal from her hand.

"This is fake. Brother, do not trust her. How could you follow me here? You cannot harm me anymore as you are in the Imperial Palace. Brother, you shall punish her for hurting and injuring me," Lei Wanxi requested to Jian Guozhi, who was befuddled seeing such behavior of Lei Wanxi.

However, he could not deny the fact that Lei Wanxi never lied on such matters. When he returned, he was not looking in a good state, which meant something serious had happened.

"It was not my fault that you are so weak. I only asked for help from you. I had never thought that a Prince could be…" she stopped speaking, not wanting to say the words.

"You cannot say such words for Brother Wanxi," Nianzu intervened between them. "He never involves himself in fights and the state in which he is today, clearly shows that something big had happened. We will discuss that matter later," Nianzu proclaimed and took the seal from Lei Wanxi's hand. "It's not fake. She is the Princess of Huan Province," stated Nianzu.

Before he could speak further, the Empress and the Consorts arrived there to welcome Zhu Lin. Zhu Lin greeted them. Deng Hui stepped forward and hugged Zhu Lin. "It is the pleasure of us to meet the future wife of the Fourth Prince. Welcome Huan Zhu Lin," stated Deng Hui.

Nianzu chuckled and walked away from there, bewildering everyone. Lei Wanxi too left as he was pissed off by Zhu Lin.

"I will not let her marry my Fourth Brother. She might put his life in danger as well. I wanted to punch her and beat her, but alas, I cannot raise a hand on a woman!" Lei Wanxi muttered while hastening towards his chamber. He saw Nianzu walking ahead of him, so he ran to him and stopped upon reaching him.

"Brother, do not marry her." Lei Wanxi straightforwardly said.

"I do not think I will be able to refuse. I did not know that our father would call her here," Nianzu sighed.

"But Brother, you love Sister Chun. Marry her instead of this Princess. I hate her," Lei Wanxi loudly said. Nianzu halted and looked at Lei Wanxi. He never saw him in such a wave of anger, especially towards women.

"My marriage with Chuntao is not possible. Maybe in the next birth, but not in this birth. I will send the Royal Physician to your chamber. Let's see each other in the morning," Nianzu stated, and left for the watchtower, leaving Lei Wanxi behind.

"I will not let this happen. She cannot become a part of this family," Lei Wanxi pledged and clenched his fists. "Ahh, my palms," he winced in pain because of the bruises, and went to his chamber.

~~~~~

Ying Lili has the last glimpse of Sheng Li from the watchtower. Xiao Zhan was standing a meter away from her. The tears in her eyes did not stop for some time. Nianzu had arrived there, but he stood beside Xiao Zhan.

Ying Lili raised her right hand and wiped the tears off her eyes. She turned back and saw Nianzu standing with General Xiao.

"I did not know that it would be this difficult," Ying Lili said in a low voice and lowered her eyes.

"Brother Sheng will be back soon. Do not cry. He will not be happy if he learned about this," Nianzu solaced the Crown Princess, who nodded.

"Brother Sheng has told me to take you with us on a trip to Mount Jishi." Ying Lili lifted her head and peered into his eyes. "How can he say this? I will not go there." Her eyes were again filled with tears.

"Brother Sheng wants you to not think about him every time. Since we all have planned a small trip to Mount Jishi, the Crown Princess shall accompany us," Nianzu asserted.

"I will not go. He is such a diplomat. He refused to take me with him, saying I shall look after the Empire from the Capital and also want me to go on a trip without him," Ying Lili proclaimed. "Forgive me, Brother Nianzu, for talking this way. I am already missing him," Ying Lili said in a meek voice.